3 When on the breast we hung,
Our help was in the Lord;
"Twas he first taught our infant tongue To form the lisping word.
4 When in our blood we lay,
He would not let us die,
Because his love had fix'd a day
To bring salvation nigh.
5 In childhood and in youth,
His eye was on us still;
Though strangers to his love and truth,
And prone to cross his will.
6 And since his name we knew,
How gracious has he been;
What dangers has he led us through,
What mercies have we seen!
7 Now through another year,
Supported by his care,
We raise our Ebenezer here,
"The Lord has help'd thus far.'
8 Our lot in future years
Unable to foresee,
He kindly to prevent our fears,
Says, "Leave it all to me.'
9 Yea, Lord, we wish to cast
Our cares upon thy breast!
Help us to praise thee for the past,
And trust thee for the rest.
XLIII. On opening a Place for social Prayer.
1 O LORD, our languid souls inspire,
For here, we trust, thou art!
Send down a coal of heav'nly fire,
To warm each waiting heart.
2 Dear Shepherd of thy people, hear,
Thy presence now display;
As thou hast giv'n a place for pray'r,
So give us hearts to pray.
3 Show us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hope to raise ;
And pour thy blessings from above,
That we may render praise.
4 Within these walls let holy peace,
And love, and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.
5 The feeling heart, the melting eye,
The humbled mind bestow;
And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow!
6 May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our pray'rs ;
And, in the presence of our Lord,
Unbosom all our cares.
7 And may the Gospel's joyful sound,
Enforc'd by mighty grace,
Awaken many sinners round,
To come and fill the place.
1 JESUS, where'er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek thee, thou art found,
And ev'ry place is hallow'd ground.
2. For thou, within no walls confin'd,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee, where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.
3 Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here, to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.
4 Here may we prove the pow'r of pray`r,
To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heav'n before our eyes.
5 Behold, at thy commanding word,
We stretch the curtain and the cord;
Come thou, and fill this wider space,
And bless us with a large increase.
6 Lord, we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
Oh! rend the heav'ns, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!
1 How welcome to the saints, when press'd With six days' noise, and care, and toil, Is the returning day of rest,
Which hides them from the world a while?
2 Now from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a diff'rent air;
Compos'd and soft'ned by the day,
All things another aspect wear.
3 How happy if their lot is cast
Where statedly the Gospel sounds!
The word is honey to their taste,
Renews their strength, and heals their wounds!
4 Though pinch'd with poverty at home,
With sharp afflictions daily fed,
It makes amends, if they can come
To God's own house for heav'nly bread!
5 With joy they hasten to the place
Where they their Saviour oft have met;
And while they feast upon his grace,
Their burdens and their griefs forget.
6 This favour'd lot, my friends, is ours,
May we the privilege improve,
And find these consecrated hours
Sweet earnests of the joys above!
7 We thank thee for thy day, O Lord :
Here we thy promis'd presence seek;
Open thine hand, with blessings stor'd,
And give us manna for the week.
10 HAPPY they who know the Lord,
With whom he deigns to dwell!
He feeds and cheers them by his word,
His arm supports them well.
2 To them, in each distressing hour,
His throne of grace is near;
And when they plead his love and pow'r,
He stands engag'd to hear.
3 He help'd his saints in ancient days,
Who trusted in his name;.
And we can witness, to his praise,
His love is still the same.
4 Wand'ring in sin, our souls he found,
And bid us seek his face;
Gave us to hear the Gospel sound,
And taste the Gospel grace.
5 Oft in his house his glory shines,
Before our wond'ring eyes;
We wish not then for golden mines,
Or ought beneath the skies.
6 His presence sweetens all our cares,
And makes our burdens light;
A word from him dispels our fears,
And gilds the gloom of night.
7 Lord, we expect to suffer here,
Nor would we dare repine;
But give us still to find thee near,
And own us still for thine.
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